Imagery and motivation in performance sports: a psychological study on weightlifters

Background: This study investigates the relationship between imagery use and motivation among weightlifters, focusing on how demographic factors like gender, education level, and national status influence these aspects. Imagery, a mental strategy used to achieve goals and motivation, an intrinsic driving force, is explored within weightlifting. Despite research linking mental strategies to performance, studies targeting weightlifters still need to be expanded. This study examines how imagery impacts this group’s motivation levels and technical performance. Methods: The study included 347 licensed athletes participating in the 2022 Turkish Individual Junior and U-23 Weightlifting Championship in Van. Data were collected online using the “Personal Information Form,” the “Sport Imagery Questionnaire,” and the “Sport Motivation Scale.” Analyses were conducted with SPSS, assessing normality through skewness and kurtosis. Parametric tests, such as t-tests and one-way ANOVA, were applied for group comparisons. At the same time, Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient was used to explore relationships between continuous variables, including age, years of experience, and competition weight category. Results: A significant positive correlation was found between imagery use and motivation, particularly in the Cognitive Imagery (CI), Motivational Specific Imagery (MSI), and Motivational General-Mastery (MGM) subdimensions. Education level significantly influenced imagery use and motivation, with higher levels linked to better mental training and increased motivation. Although gender did not significantly affect these factors, female athletes displayed more robust emotional responses, enhancing their ability to use positive emotions effectively. Age and sports experience were also positively associated with effective imagery use, indicating that experienced athletes leverage mental strategies more proficiently. Conclusions: The findings emphasize imagery as a vital tool for enhancing motivation and performance in weightlifters. Athletes with higher education levels and more experience benefit more from mental training. Future research should broaden its scope to include diverse sports and age groups, while longitudinal studies can provide deeper insights into the evolution of imagery and motivation over time.